The Anxious Generation with social psychologist Jonathan Haidt | A Bit of Optimism Podcast

Anxiety disorders affect Gen Z at astronomically higher rates than previous generations. There's plenty to be anxious about in the modern world. But the reason behind Gen Z's mental health crisis might be simpler than you'd think.
According to social psychologist and NYU professor Jonathan Haidt, the answer lies in growing up with a combination of smartphones and social media. In his new book The Anxious Generation, he argues that Gen Z's anxiety is a symptom of being the first generation to go through puberty on Instagram and TikTok, with iPhones available to access them constantly.
Thankfully, Jonathan believes the problem is solvable. He shares some advice he has for concerned parents and tells me how we can fix the mental health crisis affecting our kids in just a few years' time.
This...is A Bit of Optimism.
To learn more about Jonathan's work, check out:
www.anxiousgeneration.com/
jonathanhaidt.com/
And for parents, visit:
letgrow.org/
⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 The Impact of Social Media on Moral Discourse
1:22 Expressing vs. Convincing
2:18 The Role of Social Media in Polarization
3:47 Youth, Social Media, and Mental Health
4:59 Solutions for Youth and Democracy
7:19 Personal Anecdotes and Observations
11:36 The Anxious Generation and the Future of Democracy
17:12 Millennials vs. Gen Z: Social and Psychological Differences
22:10 The Paradox of Democracy and Technology
25:14 The Power of Collective Action
31:42 Restoring Humanity: From Childhood to Congress
39:22 Hope for Change and Personal Reflections
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Simon is an unshakable optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together.
Described as “a visionary thinker with a rare intellect,” Simon has devoted his professional life to help advance a vision of the world that does not yet exist; a world in which the vast majority of people wake up every single morning inspired, feel safe wherever they are and end the day fulfilled by the work that they do.
Simon is the author of multiple best-selling books including Start With Why, Leaders Eat Last, Together is Better, and The Infinite Game.
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Website: simonsinek.com/
Live Online Classes: simonsinek.com/classes/
Podcast: apple.co/simonsinek
Instagram: / simonsinek
Linkedin: / simonsinek
Twitter: / simonsinek
Facebook: / simonsinek
Simon’s books:
The Infinite Game: simonsinek.com/books/the-infi...
Start With Why: simonsinek.com/books/start-wi...
Find Your Why: simonsinek.com/books/find-you...
Leaders Eat Last: simonsinek.com/books/leaders-...
Together is Better: simonsinek.com/books/together...
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#SimonSinek

Пікірлер: 67

  • @newpilgrim
    @newpilgrimАй бұрын

    Thanks so much for this conversation. I'm a 20 year adult educator and went back to school 4 years ago to get my doctorate in media psychology because of this very conundrum. It's been difficult to watch this degradation in the classroom for over 15 years, attempt to warn people...and to watch as we've continued to bury our heads in the sand.

  • @skiphoffenflaven8004

    @skiphoffenflaven8004

    25 күн бұрын

    It is embarrassing to watch in our classrooms.

  • @TheGorillawarrior

    @TheGorillawarrior

    24 күн бұрын

    Your comment resonates so much with me. I have also considered going back to grad school to study this because I’m seeing the negative negative effect on school classrooms. Student happiness has plummeted in the last several years, and it’s not just the pandemic. Apathy is skyrocketing too. The students are left with no sense of meaning. I continue to search for answers to the puzzle. I wish you the best.

  • @newpilgrim

    @newpilgrim

    24 күн бұрын

    @@TheGorillawarrior I wish you well, too and I greatly appreciate your frustration. With you here in spirit and I hope we humans can rally and find a way to solve this global problem.

  • @brettvictory4606

    @brettvictory4606

    18 күн бұрын

    This was absolutely incredible. My kids are now 30 and 24 and seem very well adjusted, have lucrative careers, and good relationships. However, they glued to their phones when not working. Fortunately, they had very active childhoods and spent lots of time with friends without any parent intervention. I am very bummed that Jonathan has very little hope that our democracy will survive intact though. Capitalism breeds tyranny is a great quote that he uses to allude to what we are experiencing now. This is not a Democrat or Republican thing. It’s a failure of leadership and the system that exist that make it hard to lead objectively. I think I might start looking an other countries to live in other than U.S.

  • @CaniculaClub
    @CaniculaClubАй бұрын

    They banned smartphones in schools in the Netherlands. If parents can't self-organize, the country helps. Works amazing

  • @wongilank

    @wongilank

    Ай бұрын

    American parents organize to ban books

  • @bethgriesauer3825

    @bethgriesauer3825

    Ай бұрын

    We collect the phones at the beginning of the school day at my school in Vienna, Austria. I can't imagine allowing the students to keep them in their pockets! After about a year of that, maybe 10 years ago, our school implemented the collection method, and it made a huge difference.

  • @skiphoffenflaven8004

    @skiphoffenflaven8004

    25 күн бұрын

    @@bethgriesauer3825Americans need their guns, trucks, flags…and smartphones. This will be incredibly difficult in the US.

  • @SAAhmes

    @SAAhmes

    8 күн бұрын

    I live in Colombia. Our sons school did it as well. If you don't like it, you can go. But schools and parents need to work together.

  • @andrewthomas695

    @andrewthomas695

    5 күн бұрын

    Sadly, we are talking about the US, not a first world country.

  • @Tiggy_T
    @Tiggy_TАй бұрын

    Jonathan Haidt will save a generation

  • @andrewthomas695

    @andrewthomas695

    5 күн бұрын

    Perhaps. But not in the US. Why? Because in the US, money matters far more than children (or anything else). Behind all of the US woes is one sin. The overt, culturally engrained worship of money. Aka, greed.

  • @liljemark1
    @liljemark1Ай бұрын

    Loved his Coddling book, can't wait for the new one! Thanks for having him on your podcast.

  • @eltiburongrande
    @eltiburongrandeАй бұрын

    What an hour. So well-spent. Thank you for this upload. The bit about having children spend more time in the real world reminds me of a basic advice from animal behaviorists: Let the dog run around the yard.

  • @yezkex
    @yezkexАй бұрын

    Love the long talks simon, would be nice to have more of these.

  • @thechangingtimes
    @thechangingtimesАй бұрын

    We need this message in every school

  • @ST-wo3uw
    @ST-wo3uwАй бұрын

    Great conversation and very important issues. Really enjoying Jonathan's book "The Coddlng of the American Mind" at the moment. I'm in my 40s, but the best thing I ever did was quit social media several years ago. Even as a healthy adult, I didn't like what it was doing to me. I feel for young people who want to let it go but can't stand the fear of being left out. Hope we can help them put their phones down and find excitement, peace, and meaning elsewhere.

  • @christinecamley
    @christinecamleyАй бұрын

    Loving this new book by Jonathan Haidt. Terrific researcher! Cheers!

  • @inasens_official
    @inasens_officialАй бұрын

    THANK YOU. Highly necessary and important conversation

  • @janiceburke6037
    @janiceburke6037Ай бұрын

    I Simply Love Simon! Great Interview as well.

  • @crispychap7279
    @crispychap7279Ай бұрын

    Love this conversation. More of it!!

  • @rapfreak7797
    @rapfreak7797Ай бұрын

    Immensely informative and entertaining

  • @sumernoel1553
    @sumernoel1553Ай бұрын

    So much good here. Im totally ready to make serious boundaries & changes w this screen behavior….for my children AND MYSELF! Its sad that our children don’t understand what life was without the disruption. It was so peaceful. Id also like to put down the angst & hatefulness. We didn’t use to be this way constantly.

  • @conniemw4886
    @conniemw4886Ай бұрын

    Controlling the use of smartphones for my 2 teenagers was a struggle so my husband and I just keep on giving them guidance as much as we can.

  • @MarceloRigueti
    @MarceloRiguetiАй бұрын

    Excelente!

  • @stephenbrown1136
    @stephenbrown113627 күн бұрын

    The irony of watching this on my phone is a Hittin me..

  • @elizabethr4107

    @elizabethr4107

    17 күн бұрын

    Comprehension: C-

  • @stephenbrown1136

    @stephenbrown1136

    16 күн бұрын

    @@elizabethr4107 what is meta, for 200 pls

  • @yongcipres
    @yongcipres18 күн бұрын

    I believe we must first agree about what is the meaning of emergency. I am 55. If someone dies, or was caught in an accident, the kids need not know about it with such immediacy. They are just kids. The government school districts should implement this -->> Before entering the classroom (Grades 1 to 6), kids should place their smartphones on the bucket above the teacher's table; then get it back after class.

  • @yorkie23D7
    @yorkie23D715 күн бұрын

    I work in a small department made up of 11 people, half are gen x, one millennial and the rest are gen z. During the morning tea break the only people that actually talk to each other are the gen x-ers and the millennial. The younger ones tend to gaze down at their phones and rarely speak unless someone mentions "Married at first sight" or Forge of Empires and then they might chip in.

  • @paxdriver
    @paxdriver19 күн бұрын

    The message ti kids should be "there are better things ti do with my time". Nobody should feel they're missing out by not being on Facebook, it should be obvious that they are missing out over literally everything that matter every moment we spend on Facebook. Kris, nee Canada 1985. We didn't just play in the street, we organized 5 on 5 hockey with kids from different cliques sharing skates, sticks and transportation without helmets on ice, after dark. It was normal kids made sure their parent knew where they were and roughly the latest they'd be allowed to stay out. It was normal to organize big gatherings, and it was normal tk chat on messenger after hours too. Chats were never more interesting than the risk of blades, frozen pucks, sticks, no pads or guards, and bitter Winnipeg cold. I can't imagine not interacting at that age, I was so damn bad at it I'd feel ridiculous as an adult had I not learned common sense back then.

  • @kartikchaturvedi7868
    @kartikchaturvedi7868Ай бұрын

    Superrrb Awesome Fantastic video

  • @elizabethshedd1017
    @elizabethshedd1017Ай бұрын

    During the pandemic, my laptop died. No social media, no news. It was the most peaceful week and a half.

  • @theotherway1639
    @theotherway1639Ай бұрын

    The thing is...kid's are not at blame for excessive smartphone and social media use at this point...we've let the beast out of the cage and now it's not social media, it's more like hypnotical media. The kids don't even know a world without it, it's integrated into everything. Jonathan's book goes great with the mindfulness workbook called 30 Days Without Social Media by Harper Daniels.

  • @Dreamer-Angel
    @Dreamer-AngelАй бұрын

    🥰

  • @chasethechase2298
    @chasethechase229825 күн бұрын

    Gen X is the least mentally healthy generation, according to who? Not the APA Stress in America™ 2020 report. Why aren't people spending time together? Where? How would they get there?

  • @brain_respect_and_freedom
    @brain_respect_and_freedomАй бұрын

    👍

  • @skiphoffenflaven8004
    @skiphoffenflaven800425 күн бұрын

    I agree with J. H., I’ve read all of his books. But I do not think Americans can recover from this. The narcissism each child learns to demonstrate at such a young age has become entrenched. The depression they demonstrate has become the ‘hip thing’. This is Salem, 1600-1700s. Things will have to get much worse before this will be fixed. I do not expect it in my lifetime (Gen Xer here). I find it incredibly embarrassing that Americans are so weak. I do think the kids themselves know better. As a Gen Xer, Nintendo was a huge deal. However, with or without parental urging, we decided OURSELVES to stop playing Nintendo and head outside to play, explore, to play DnD together, or Magic, or chess, etc… Gen Z has had all of those things available and they CHOSE, narcissistically, to stay online and show off themselves at the same time believing they were adults by doing so, effectively accelerating towards adulthood without any understanding of adulthood.

  • @littlelizzymamaliz
    @littlelizzymamaliz24 күн бұрын

    Mom bag? Our shoulders are broken. It's time for the dad satchel. Or parent pouch! The comment was not great.

  • @atrocchia
    @atrocchia17 күн бұрын

    Smartphones have resulted in an unprecedented overload of information 24/7.

  • @schannstewart9385
    @schannstewart938512 күн бұрын

    Our generation is noisy, crazy, loud with way too many choices to choose from. It's No wonder anxiety is so high in this country!

  • @passionfunpractice
    @passionfunpracticeАй бұрын

    I feel it would be of great value to include a Gen Zer in this conversation.

  • @tonylombardi4661
    @tonylombardi4661Ай бұрын

    I have college age kids. I made two decisions that were counter to their friends. No video game computer in our house. My opinion was they should go do something fun including read novels. (They could play with their friends' console, but no gaming in our house). No cell phone until 8th grade. I see very, very children with experience cell phones and tablets in their lap as a pacifier. Our kids don't have the anxiety issues that many of their friends experience and they decide at times to delete their social media apps because it's a distraction.

  • @randomactivitiesco.5848
    @randomactivitiesco.5848Ай бұрын

    If you're talking about parenting and healthy future generations, you have to read Disolving Illusions. Kids Don't have a chance without proper care.

  • @davepenny1199
    @davepenny1199Ай бұрын

    Off topic....to this clip. How do you have or approach "dangerous conversations" about the integrity of the leadership. When or after an event or circumstances - give rise to strong concerns /questions about the integrity of the leadership. When already, a level of trust has eroded. In the absence of communication or any acknowledgement Where I feel, self preservation (of /within leadership)has become a main value now driving (leadership actions)

  • @keredeht
    @keredeht5 күн бұрын

    I don't agree about keeping politicians in the swamp... when they come home they are more tied to and influenced by the communities they are supposed to represent. This is good for democracy!

  • @Jennawang20
    @Jennawang20Ай бұрын

    yeah this is mean😬😅

  • @catatonicbug7522
    @catatonicbug7522Ай бұрын

    I broke down in tears about the need to allow kids to take risks of actual physical harm. Humans needs that to develop. We need to learn to take risks and balance those risks against rewards. Please stop coddling the children!

  • @Toocurplants
    @ToocurplantsАй бұрын

    Shouldn't we consider roles of women? as mothers and daughters? They are the main drive for creating and maintaining social units? So if we help them with feeling less anxious. Maybe we can change things? I mean is it possible and how we do that is another topic that depends on location, i guess?

  • @chasethechase2298

    @chasethechase2298

    25 күн бұрын

    Men can fulfill those roles equally well. Why are so many care-roles unfulfilled? Let's take a look at how nurses were treated during the recent pandemic. Overworked and at-risk, they were neither monetarily rewarded in a way commensurate with the increased risk and workload nor was care found for them to be supported which they cared for the sick. Now, we continue to have a shortage of nurses since the field is less popular and less populated. Teaching is also an increasingly unpopular profession. For parents, I have heard that community childcare is at an all-time low, and so parents have to work instead of caring for their children. If caring wasn't so difficult to do and so unsupported, many would gladly fill the roles, and that is something which can be changed on the personal and the political level.

  • Ай бұрын

    "The phone is an experience blocker. You spend a lot less time in the presence of other people. You're not with your friends. You're sleeping less, you're in nature less, you read fewer books, you don't have time for anything else, you have less of almost everything." -Jonathan Haidt

  • @paigedavis8761
    @paigedavis8761Ай бұрын

    The workplace issues you are referring to are for GenZ. I was born in 91 and don’t relate at all nor do any of my millennial peers.

  • @ginger22ly
    @ginger22ly16 күн бұрын

    Gals or females also may like to play action games.

  • @sn8597
    @sn859726 күн бұрын

    What’s to be done to help the 20 something adult child that is wasting their life after quitting great job following a great college degree being on top of their school.. because they don’t want to work the 9-5 or have desire to earn money. Just got blindsided parenting in the age when we didn’t know understand the pitfalls of smart phone and social media. We are to mind our boundaries and not hurt their feelings by rejecting their poor choices or we are cut off from their lives. Is there any hope for this age group?

  • @chasethechase2298

    @chasethechase2298

    25 күн бұрын

    I'm around that age. Why work? We'll never have an amount of money appreciable to what matters to build up long-term goals: homes, families, vacations. These luxuries are increasingly out of reach, and all the time there are more and more things to do which are free (Tabletop gaming, sports, media). Is there hope that they will work hard to compete for scraps during a time when corporate greed is destroying the climate? No. But there is hope that they will find happiness, community, and fulfillment through non-monetary means

  • @khanyisagura4377
    @khanyisagura437724 күн бұрын

    I want to put my phone away when i am at home with my 2 year old daughter always always

  • @user-yl2fi8ge5y
    @user-yl2fi8ge5yАй бұрын

    I wish only people at the age of 18+ can have a gadget, and make limits on how they will use it

  • @tedlee4857
    @tedlee4857Ай бұрын

    Con artists sound like bipolari🤣🤣

  • @jacquischaefer6118
    @jacquischaefer6118Ай бұрын

    Twice so far he commented and slid in his political view . Lots of other ways to get his point across without it . This is part of the problem

  • @elizabethmeulenbelt2850
    @elizabethmeulenbelt2850Ай бұрын

    Free-range children, now that's a bumper sticker to put out in the world, lol! I think the world could greatly benefit from children being taught how to practice self discipline and boundaries with self. They can never learn this if things are just taken away because they are overindulgent. Same as the addict. The strength to say no, enough is enough has to be taught and demonstrated for them.

  • @chasethechase2298

    @chasethechase2298

    25 күн бұрын

    No man is an island. Children need guidance from parental figures, not neglect or authoritarianism.

  • @eckharttolle-nq7qu
    @eckharttolle-nq7quАй бұрын

    HAVE YOU NOTICED GAS IS SKY HIGH - THANKS JOE😅

  • @Jean-Luc-sh2pg
    @Jean-Luc-sh2pg13 күн бұрын

    Why would Haidt go on this? Sinek is such a bottom-feeder, so beneath him.